Just came back from the night shift and my brain is too fried to write now, so more later...

oops

Up before noon this morning, hmmm... It gets more interesting that this, as I gradually move from being upset with myself towards being impartial. Anyway, this has to has some repercussions throughout the day. One of them is scarce attention, which can be observed when working with specific long time span exercises that involve attention. Or just now at the start of this day, during sitting.

I check emails. One of them discussing possible short visit to Vienna, between Christmas and a New Year. This would coincide with the final ECP meeting.

After light breakfast I leave to the post office to post the addressed envelope for the application form. The office is crowded, and outside of it? It has been raining, but now it's just slightly cold, the sky is greyish.

After some AAD guitar work, which, I could say, makes me feel alive, I check internet - a new AAD Theme is available. I look for the notes from my previous work with it.

It's 15.38 and just noticed it's already getting dark - what?! It's living in the North of England I don't take for granted that much anymore.

I get going with lunch, my sister calls. She's very pleased and excited about getting a new car soon, she also made some good moves toward getting a better job in Leeds. Great to hear all this and it makes me wonder how much information already the tone of our voice carries... Now food - I get a big serving, too big, I stop when had enough, and leave what is left for later.

I use internet next and spend some time on a very engaging website: www.liminalband.com Great stuff! and the info in Spanish is translated into English so it's also a good material for study.

I keep working on the piece, which I set myself to write this week. It continues to develop in it's own, slow pace... It's simple.

Then we are out with Marek to get some shopping in ASDA. It's already colder now, but as long as there's no evil northern wind it can't be too bad. I notice that shops are generally not the places where I want to be, this one is not the exception.

After this go to the bus station and meet Ania there. She has a Spanish-English dictionary and JGB's book on working the Themes for me. There's yet more of my stuff at her place. She also brings some goodies - pesto and mielone. Then she's off to her night shift.

More guitar, Spanish, dinner. We sit with Marek and Belen, relax and help each other with languages.

Then emails, I present Marek the progress with the piece, more emails. JOTD.

Post the journal, now winding down...

1.17 a.m.

short day, night and another day (one day)

06&07/12/08 - Sunday & Monday
Harrogate

I'm up at 14.14 and doesn't feel like going back to sleep, the alarm was set for 16.00. Good morning to the Day! Get some tea, and speak with Marek in the kitchen for a while. I usually do only necessary before sitting, well, and so it is today. After the sitting go shopping straightaway, so I actually get to see some daylight, which is good and keeps one sane. Then eat.

I call my mother, who is actually having a visitor, so I speak shortly and agree to call tomorrow in the evening.

Guitar time! This tunes and balances me: after some foundation work on the right hand, move to DV & recording. As it happens two At-A-Distance projects (AAD & ECP) I'm engaged in involve recording. And today I give another shot to recording the ECP circulation. How difficult actually it is - just to contribute one note in each bar, and there are 21 of them. Later I found out that there is a strange noise in the recording, where it comes from? don't ask me - I just pluck the strings and do my best to play with the metronome click!

Once it's done, I have some time for a drink and chat with Belen and Marek. We give it a go to Spanish, which has to mean one thing for sure - mistakes!

Then work. Notice that my job is about taking the point of view of the other person. Also see that tonight I am unable to relax. A rather tiring night, but I make friends with one resident, who thinks I comes from ... South Africa and at one point uses this lovely expression: 'it is jolly nice of you!' You don't hear it often.

After job I go back home, take shower and rest. Allow myself to doze into 3 hour nap. Which is just fab, spontaneous recharger at the right time. It is a healing & quality rest. If only my sleep was functioning like this regularly, as it should do, the quality of my life would change a big deal. I slowly unwrap myself, have a cup of tea, chat with friends. This is the space where I feel safe and comfortable, at home, and it hasn't always been like this during my travels.

JOTD. And some music: Arvo Part's Tabula Rasa & Spiegel im Spiegel.

Then we go shopping with Marek, usual Sunday crowds around. After writing few emails I leave to visit Karolina, Grzegorz and their little boy. We made good friends in a short time. Food, drinks, good company - what else can one ask for ?I 'm back home before 20 o'clock. Talk on the phone with Ania (Leeds) & my Mum (Tychy) and get some dinner. I'm actually not that hungry, just the power of habit and inflexibility.

Slowly winding down. Some facebook. Watch another Spanish-dubbed movie - Willow. Actually, the first movie I watched on the VHS, was it just over 20 years ago, or so ? The difference between watching it then and now, is that now I'm watching it with 'filters'. Leave it halfway through to pick up later.

Now post this (23:02) and to the evening exercise...

Good night and thanks for everything!

night

5-12-8
Harrogate, England

I get up at 19.50-ish. A long rest, for sure, but it seems so strange to wake up to the night, it's going to be dark for another 11 hours, or so.

Anyway - good day !

I sit still, drink some tea, and allow the dreaming state to go. Then at 20.40 - the Practice of Doing Nothing, and for this ,invite Marek to join in, and he does. We sit for half an hour.

Then I have my first meal plus another cup of tea. While chatting with Belen I don't miss opportunity to boast about 20 new words I've learnt yesterday...

So tonight enjoy other people's company while I can. Soon M&B will be go to sleep and I'm going to stay on my own with the night ahead. Actually, I'm ok with being on my own, you could say it's in my nature, but now I like to keep it balanced, and spend more time with other people.

But instead I spend one hour with guitar - it does wake me up. [During 23.00 o'clock pause notice that the 60 points exercise supports the ROTL).

After writing some emails I give time to JOTD. Eat after this. Yesterday I bought smoked trout (at the discounted price of about one third of the original one!) It was of good quality, and what a treat for me, recently I'm mostly fish eater. Yes, you could say I'm a happy boy.

Then relax and work on Spanish, this also includes ... dubbed Terminator! There are probably better choices for this purpose, as half of the movie consists on shooting and running away from the killing-machine. But I pick some words up and make note of them, i.e.: cada, delicado (in this movie?), & la tormenta. After this I treat myself with some Chi Kung. A good time to pick up the guitar after this, which I do and spend some time on the AAD recording, ECP recording assignment, then play around with some ideas, record some of them... I'm working on the piece for one guitar.

After another meal I read more AAD Theme reports, write few emails and review the day. Marek has just left to work and I'll be soon hitting the bed. I'm quite happy with this 'day' between the nightshifts...

It's 7.36 am

Good-bye God!

4/12/8

I wake up at 7.30 this morning and go back to sleep to finally get up at 9.43 a.m.

Another day begins - Good Morning!

And a most beautiful morning it is. The town is covered with snow (haven't seen it before here!) I sit down with my dream diary and note what I remember, then an extended morning sitting exercise.

It really feels like winter, finally. After light breakfast I call my mum who just came back from a visit to Węgrzynów, she stayed longer than planned. After some emails, I see to JOTD.

Straight after this get the phone call from somebody who is negative and judgmental about how I deal with something, this happened before. I get tired of this and get irritated, so I draw the line clearly as I see I have to be assertive on this one. It leaves me upset and reflecting on how much of my irritation and anger is directed to other person, and how much to myself ? After all, a lot can be projected to others...

I eat, then leave to the job centre to inquire about the job, as the phone line was constantly busy. Go back home, have tea and short AT lie-down.

Then I chat with Belen - she helps me with some Spanish. Yep, it's too good opportunity to be missed - living with native Spanish speaker. And Belen studies Polish, so I could help too, if needed...

Spend some time on Themes follow-up, then set up the recording device, with Marek's help and using his gear. Great! It works!

And that's more or less when I get the phone call with the proposal to do the night shift. You don't turn it down when you are in my shoes, so change of plans on the spot. I spend 30 minutes with the guitar, playing and recording then get ready to leave: meal, packing and such.

The walk on the snow is laborous and tiring. As always admire the sky when walking through the stray, it has almost became a habit. And the night shift drags, working with 2 stuff who excel in sucking energy from whatever has ears around them.

I go back home very tired. Few things done, and now to the sitting exercise, to ground myself and digest the day's experience.

Goodbye!

9.47am

3rd December '08 is a day off

Currently reading John Grisham's novel: breaking the law, thrill, controversy, excitement, goodies, baddies, and guys even worse than that...

And the Muse at Wembley dvd is a cool one to watch, then, another episode from Trials of Life series.



I just came back from Tychy, but in 17 days I'll be going there again, for Christmas at home!

enough

In the morning: an invitation from M. to join in the Practice of Doing Nothing (10.01 am) and in the evening: ECP meeting.

A long 31,5 hours day, so far.